Artificial christmas trees



Nov. 10, 1959 D, RODGERS 2,911,748

ARTIFICIAL CHRISTMAS TREES Filed March 29, 1957 IN VENTOR:

BYAQOMU LicA @wlgz/w Attorney.

United States Patent ARTIFICIAL CHRISTMAS TREES Dominick Rodgers,Pittsburgh, Pa.

Application March 29, 1957, Serial No. 649,452 3 Claims. (Cl. 41-15)This invention relates to artificial Christmas trees and particularly toa readily stored, strong and stable artificial tree.

Many forms of artificial Christmas trees have heretofore been proposed.Conventionally these trees are based upon the use of a central trunkwith a plurality of axially extending branches which "may or may notfold for storage. In either event, such trees are bulky in storage,unstable in use and expensive to make.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple,inexpensive, stable, easily stored artificial Christmas tree.

Another object of the invention is to provide an artificial Christmastree capable of folding into a flat compact mass.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an artificialChristmas tree having a plurality of diverging side members with atleast two such members removably connected together at one end to form apoint or apex and diverging from said end in conical fashion, connectingmeans connecting the diverging side members adjacent the end oppositethe apex connection end to a central axis and rotatable thereabout,means on said opposite end of the apex-connected members adapted to befixed to a support surface and spaced holding means on each divergingmember adapted to receive successive tiers of ropelike sprays of fringedmaterial and decorative lamps.

Other objects, advantages and purposes of this invention will beapparent from a consideration of the following description and theaccompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of apreferred embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevation of a segment of a divergingmember of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged front elevation of the segment shown in Figure3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged side elevation of a fastening means of Figures1, 3 and 4.

Referring to the drawings there is illustrated four diverging sidemembers 10, 11, 12 and 13 connected together by a bolt 14 at one end toform a point or apex, although it will be understood that more than fourside members may be employed to complete the conical shape. Eachdiverging member '10, 11, 12 and 13 is provided with a U-shapedsupporting portion 15 at the end opposite bolt 14. A connecting andspacing rod-like or strap member arm 16 connects each diverging member10, 11, 12 and 13 to a central axis 17, whereby the members arerotatable thereabout. Each diverging member 10, 11, 12 and 13 isprovided with spaced openings 18 receiving hook means 19, said hookmeans being crimped tightly through the openings 18" in tight contactwith the diverging member.

The Christmas tree of this invention is operated in the followingfashion. The diverging members 10, 11, 12 and 13 are stored by removingbolt 14 and turning the diverging members 10, 11, 12 and 13 about theaxis to form a flat, compact assembly. To assemble and use theinvention, the diverging members 10, 11, 12 and 13 are rotated about theaxis 17 so as to be degrees apart. The bolt 14 is inserted through theends of the diverging members and tightened in place. Screws or likefasteners (not shown) are placed through openings 20 in theinwardly-bent and downwardly and outwardly extending end portion orU-shaped member 15 and into a supporting surface to hold the tree inupright position. Festoons 21 of ropelike interwoven twigs or artificialsprays and like decorative material are hung over the hooks 19 asillustrated in Figure 1. Similarly ropes of decorative electric lamps 22may be hung over the hooks 19. 7

While a preferred embodiment of this invention has been illustrated anddescribed hereinabove, it will be understood that the invention may beotherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims;

Iclaim:

1. A hollow artificial and ornamental tree construction comprising,downwardly-diverging side members having inwardly-bent bottom endportions, a central pivot support means, spacing arms extending inwardlyfrom said bent portions and connecting said side members on a centralvertical axis to said pivot support means for rotation thereabout, aplurality of said side members converging upwardly to form an apex at atop end of the construction, means securely connecting saidupwardly-converging side members together at said apex in a releasablerelationship with respect to each other, supporting portions extendingdownwardly from said inwardly-bent bottom end portions and adapted to bepositioned on a supporting surface, said apex and said pivot supportmeans being connected together only through said upwardly-convergingside members, means in a vertically spaced relation on saidupwardly-converging and downwardly-diverging side members for suspendingdecorative material therefrom, and the tree construction beingcollapsible by releasing said securing means and turning said pluralityof side members on the central vertical axis about said pivot supportmeans into a compact assembly.

2. A tree construction as defined in claim 1 wherein, said supportingportions are of substantially L shape and have apertured feet forinserting fasteners thereinto and into the supporting surface to holdthe tree construction in an upright position.

3. A hollow artificial and ornamental tree construction comprising,downwardly-diverging side members having inwardly-bent lower endportions, said members defining a conical shape, a central pivot supportmeans, means extending inwardly from said bent lower end portions andconnecting them on a central vertical axis to said pivot support meansfor rotation thereabout, at least four of said side members convergingupwardly to form an apex, means securely connecting saidupwardlyconverging side members together at said apex in a releasablerelationship with respect to each other, said lower end portions beingof substantially U-shape for positioning the construction on asupporting surface, said apex and said pivot support means beingconnected together only through said side members, and verticallyspacedhook means along said side members for suspending decorative material ina tier relationship thereon.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS460,876 Kurth Oct. 6, 1891 849,962 Bell Apr. 9, 1907 FOREIGN PATENTS1,084,577 France July 7, 1954

